Scrapie disease is a serious problem for sheep that are predisposed to its development. It is important that you understand that several breed of sheep seem most likely to eventually express this neurological disorder. Suffolks and black-faced sheep have been the most commonly reported and thus have had the most rigorous USDA testing.
Over the past 15 years, understanding about the source, potential and transmission of the TSE complex has undergone a huge range of experimental testing possibilities and outcome-based restriction of ruminant care/movement. Reading the research is something of an adventure into madness as each country in which the research is undertaken has a different set of concerns, realities and tools from which they establish the very research they do and outcomes they report.
Over the past 2 years, the world of ruminant science has shifted yet again and the most experienced of sheep countries (AU and NZ) have begun a shift that argues against the American science; RR is no longer considered the most resistant genotype. Current research in these much more experienced sheep breeding countries is moving away from the American Codon 171/RR standard and back toward QQ. Even newer research suggests that the cause of Scrapie maybe a virus.Four years ago, we began a
process of voluntarily breeding toward sheep that were exclusively RR at Codon 171 as a safety measure for our farm and customers. While the choice to engage this extra science was ours, we always believed that this was probably an unwise decision. Genotyping is a fragile and young “science” that is fraught with
the very real possibility of decisions made in one year, to be regretted in
another.
As of January 2007, we have decided to follow
the science with a mind toward what science is at its best: A journey of inquiry that is always shifting
and always unsure. We will continue to
test and monitor our flock, but will discontinue eliminating otherwise
outstanding ewes and rams that test as QQ at Codon 171 and increase our testing of Codon 136 (with additional sub-tests as they come available) for our primary ewes and rams.
When you consider your
sheep farm possibilities, remember that your sheep can be, will or are put into
the USDA Scrapie program as a means by which the US government can watch for
health problems that may affect humans.
There is no reason that any of us should be outraged by this desire to
care for health at any level. Human health should be at the very top of the list of concerns for those of us that produce livestock.
However, the power of the USDA is
not something that any farm should take casually. We encourage you to read the book linked below. As anyone past the age of 50 can affirm, the government can often -in its zeal to create solutions- create problems that could have been avoided through a more tempered approach. None of us can ever know the entire truth of this story presented in this book, but we can learn a great deal about doing our own research, following the science and being completely aware of the power of one point of view. Farming is not a very profitable endeavor and your investment should include at least 25% hopeful joy in its potential and 25% serious research in its risk. The other 50% is the unique portion of our individual drives we each bring to this intense and often overwhelming lifestyle: Only YOU can decide what that means to you.
Mad Sheep: The True Story Behind The USDA’S War On A
Family Farm A brilliantly
written book by Linda Faillace.
If you would like to contact the USDA regarding the Scrapie program, this is the link to their site.
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/scrapie/status_def.shtml
If you would like to check on an individual breeder's status the following link will take you to the state by state APHIS page.http://scrapietag.aphis.usda.gov/reports/sisstate.php